Rug scrubbing machine



Jan. 13 1 953 K. c.-ATK|N 2,624,896

RuG SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed sept. 1s, 1948 2 SHEETS s 11EET 1 Jan. 13, 1953 K. c. ATKIN 2,624,896

` RUG scRUBBING MACHINE Filed sept. 1s, 194e a SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENToz.

Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE RUG SCRUBBING' IWACHINE Application September 13, 19518,' Serial No. 49,000

3 Claims, (Cl. 5r-*541)vv 'This disclosure relates to a vrug-scrubbing machine of the type adapted to shampoo rugs on a floor surface, and it is the general aim of the invention to provide a machine having a novel support and adjusting means for the scrubbing brush so that the brush is not only held in the precise manner determined to accomplish the most eilicient cleansing of the rug but is also so held as to avoid the tendency of priori machines to-move over the surface of the rug in an uncontrolled manner as a result of the friction between the brush'and the rug.

A specic object ofv the invention is to acconrplish the foregoing result in a rug Iscrubbing machine adapted'to utilize av single, flat rotary scrubbing brush, yet maintain the brush in a stable mounting so designed as to avoid the tendency to creep orv wander when in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rug scrubbing machine having a single at, rotary scrubbing brush, together with means to adjust the working pressure of' the brush and the angle of its axis of rotation to suit the machine to operation on rugs having various thicknesses and textures of nap.

Another obiect of' the invention is to provide, in arug scrubbing machine, an adjustable mounting for a rotary brush and its driving motor whereby the brush may be supported above and in relatively light contact with the surface of the rug, yet wherein the degree of Contact -between the brush and rug, may be controlled, reguulated` and limited in accordance with the depth of' thev nap of the rug so thatthe most eicient cleansing may be obtained under any of various conditions.

A'still further object of the invention is the provision of ay machinek utilizing a main frame on which the scrubbing brush and its driving mechanism is mounted, the main frame being pivoted on and supported by a secondary frame or cradle, together with means for adjusting the relative angular positions of the main frame and cradle, sov that the brush is held with its axis slightly inclined to bring one edge of the brush only into contact with the rug surface, but may be tilted more or less to achieve the precise working pressure determined to give the best results.

The inventive concept of these teachings will be described in connection with two different embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings of this specification. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 1;

FigureA 3 is av plan view similar to Fi'g.- 1, showing a slightly modified form of theinvention; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of theform of the invention shown in Figure 3.

The machine comprises, in general, a main frame IU which carries a revolving scrubbing brush Il, and a supporting frame er cradle I2 to suspend the main frame and brush above the floor. A motor housing I3 encloses a motor I B0 and reduction gearing to rotate the brush, and the unitis ordinarily provided with an upwardly extending handle I4, the lowerend of which terminates in a pair of spaced arms l5 pivoted to the frame on the studs I6. It is contemplated that a handle It may include a shampoo reservoir I l and may be provided with a control valve IB and actuating rod I9 to regulate the ow of liquid shampoo downwardly through a supply tube 29 to an injector fitting 2l in the top of the frame l.

The liquid shampoo may be fed to the brush II in the usual manner, and a exible skirt 22 extends downwardly from the frame I0 to surround the brush and conne the foam developed by the action of the brush on the rug.

It has been mentioned that it is one of the aims of the present invention to provide a mechanism wherein the rotary scrubbing brush II may be raised o1- lowered and its axis of rotation 23 tilted to a greater or lesser degree from the vertical, to attain the desired degree of contact between the brush and the rug surface. With the axis of rotation of the Abrush tilted, only one side of the brush is brought into contact with the rug, since it has been learned thatV al better-scrubbing action is attained in this manner than with the entire surface of the brush in contact with the rug, yet the tendency of the machine to wander is overcome.

To this end the supportingy cradle I2 is formed in generallyv U-shaped or horseshoe shape,y as viewed from above, so that the main frame is between the forwardly extending arms 24 vof the cradle. The cradle is provided with casters 25 on adjustable :pivot spindles 25 to adjust the cradle to level position. The main frame I0 is supported within the cradle on a pair of trunnions 27 threaded into the opposite sides of a bracket 28 secured to the frame I9 by machine screws 2t. The trunnions 2l' are-pivoted in bosses 3B in the opposite arms of the cradle, so that the main frame may swing downwardly on the trunnions to .bring the forward edge of the brush against the oor surfaces. It is a feature of the present invention that the pivotal movement of the frame with respect to the cradle be precisely controlled so that the brush may be set to the exact angle desired, however, and to this end an adjusting screw 3| is threaded through one arm of the cradle to control the pivotal movement of the parts. The screw 3l has a hand wheel 32 so that it may be adjusted by hand, and its lower end is grooved at 33 and tted into a slot in an extension 34 of the trunnion bracket 2B, so that movement of the screw upwardly ra1ses the frame and brush, while downward movement of the screw allows the frame and brush to swing downwardly to any working angle desired.

In operation, it will be seen that the cradle I2 and its casters 25 will support the frame I0, the brush II and the motor housing I3. The screw SI provides means for raising or lowering the main housing, however, so that the degree of contact between the brush I I and the surface of the rug may be precisely regulated to the point where best results are obtained with a rug of any given characteristics of texture or thickness.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and i the adjusting screw is located in the center of the rear curve of the cradle rather than at one side. 23 is formed with a rearwardly extending arm 35 in which a vertical adjusting screw 36 is threaded. The screw 33 has a hand wheel 3l' at its upper end, and its lower end has a reduced neck and ball 38 held in a socket in the cradle by the plate 33.

rIhe operation of the form of the invention is almost identical with the form shown in Figures l and 2, since the cradle I2 and its casters 25 still support the frame Iii, the brush Il and the motor housing I3 in the same manner, and the axis 23 of the brush can be tilted at any desired angle with respect to the floor by turning the screw 35 to raise or lower the main housing. Thus the degree of contact between the brush I I and the surface of the rug may be precisely regulated by rotating the hand wheel 3l.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the teachings of this invention it is possible to utilize the recognized advantages of a single, ilat, rotary type brush, yet to control the contact of the brush on the oor so effectively as to successfully overcome the diniculties of control heretofore encountered in machines of this type.

Moreover, the mechanism here disclosed accomplishes the desired result in a simple and straightforward manner, without undue multiplicity or complexity of parts, and by an arrangement wherein all the parts are so assembled and related that the entire unit is rugged yet attractive, and is well adapted to economical mass production methods of manufacture while at the same time suited to convenient and easy servicing assembly or repair.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desired to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a rug scrubbing machine, in combination, a main frame with a single generally at circular scrubbing brush rotatably mounted below the frame, a motor, a motor housing adapted to enclose said motor for driving said brush, a cradle at least partially encircling said main frame, casters for supporting said cradle, a pair of spaced trunnions pivotally connecting said main frame to said cra- To this end the trunnion bracket dle on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, and manually operated means for tilting said main frame and scrubbing brush thereon with reference to said cradle whereby the brush may be tilted and held in any desired tilted position with relation to a surface to be scrubbed, said tilting means comprising an extension forming a part of said main frame and screwthreaded means connecting said extension to said cradle whereby to cause relative movement between said main frame and brush and said cradle about the axis of said trunnions.

2. In a rug scrubbing machine, in combination, a main frame with a single generally flat circular scrubbing brush rotatably mounted below the frame, a motor, a motor housing adapted to enclose said motor for driving said brush, a cradle at least partially encircling said main frame, casters for supporting said cradle, a pair of spaced trunnions pivotally connecting said main frame to said cradle on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, and manually operated means for tilting said main frame and scrubbing brush thereon with reference to said cradle whereby the brush may be tilted and held in any desired tilted position with relation to a surface to be scrubbed, said tilting means comprising an extension forming a part of said main frame and screwthreaded means connecting said extension to said cradle whereby to cause relative movement between said main frame and brush and said cradle about the axis of said trunnions, said screwthreaded means having a screwthreaded connection with said cradle.

3. In a rug scrubbing machine, in combination, a main frame with a single generally at circular scrubbing brush rotatably mounted below the frame, a motor, a motor housing adapted to enclose said motor for driving said brush, a cradle at least partially encircling said main frame, casters for supporting said cradle, a pair of spaced trunnions pivotally connecting said main frame to said cradle on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, and manually operated means for tilting said main frame and scrubbing brush thereon with reference to said cradle whereby the brush may be tilted and held in any desired tilted position with relation to a surface to be scrubbed, said tilting means comprising an extension forming a part of said main frame and screwthreaded means connecting said extension to said cradle whereby to cause relative movement between said main frame and brush and said cradle about the axis of said trunnions, said screwthreaded means having a screwthreaded connection with said extension.

KENNETH C. ATKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,299,989 Miller Apr, 8, 1919 1,299,990 Miller Apr. 8, 1919 2,114,966 Myers Apr. 19, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 593,220 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1947 634,215 Germany Aug. 20, 1936 

